Ruth Nelson (1904-2002)

NELSON, ALLEN, MCKIM, WILKINSON, GRIMES, VILMONT

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 7/18/2008 at 20:47:04

Nevada Journal, Nevada, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, March 14, 2002.

July 27, 1904, to March 7, 2002

Ruth (Allen) Nelson, 97, of Nevada, died from complications of a stroke on Thursday, March 7, at Story County Long Term Care, where she had been a resident since August of 1993.

She was born July 27, 1904, on a farm northwest of Nevada to Frank and Jessie Mae (McKim) Allen. She attended Milford School and graduated from Nevada High School in 1923. She graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls in 1926 and attended Drake University. She taught school at Milford until her marriage to Alvin Martin Nelson on June 15, 1929, at the Allen farmstead. They farmed in Richland Township near Fernald. In 1951, she returned to teaching and taught kindergarten at the Fernald school. In 1957, she was a kindergarten and first grade teacher for the Nevada school system. She retired in 1969, and she and her husband spent their winters in Mesa, Ariz. She was a member of EOW, Milford Club, Mothers Club, life member of the Order of the Eastern Star, PEO AM Chapter, DAR, Presbterian Church circle, and a life member of the Central Presbyterian Church. She loved traveling, spending witners in Arizona, playing bridge and was noted for her delicious chocolate cake with seven-minute frosting and chocolate glaze.

Survivors include a son, John (and Emma) Nelson of Urbandale; a daughter, JoAnn Wilkinson of Nevada; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Bernice Allen and Marion Nelson Grimes; and a brother-in-law, Homer Vilmont.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband on April 9, 1978; a sister, Mary Jane; and four brothers, Phil, Mac, George and John Allen.

Funeral services were held Monday, March 11, at the Central Presbyterian Church in Nevada with Pastor Scott Milsom officiating. Burial followed in the Nevada Municipal Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for the Story County Long Term Care or the Central Presbyterian Church. Chet Ryan Mortuary, Nevada, handled arrangements.